Michael Wes Vournas

Born August 28, 1962- Passed away September 12, 2009

Michael has passed away after a two and half year battle with cancer. He fought and dealt with this awful disease much like everything else he did in life with courage, humor, tenacity, dignity, and passion. He was a loving husband to Cindy for twenty-six years and a loving father to his daughters Jessica 25 (Jesse Mathieu), Christina 18, and Mikaela 16. He is also survived by his three grandchildren Grace 5, Jack 2, David 1 as well as his Mother Georgia and Brother Andrew.

Although only forty-seven years old Michael led a very full life, marrying the love of his life in Cindy at nineteen years old and having his first child at age twenty-one. Michael was always interested in law enforcement as a kid, which led to his first career job in 1982 as a police officer for the Glendale Police Department for four years. In 1986 while holding various jobs including running a restaurant, he decided to go back to school. He earned a degree in Political Science with honors from the University of Southern California in 1989.

From then forward he hit the ground running. Mike started a fourteen year career in Federal Law Enforcement for Federal Probation and Parole as a Parole Officer. Serving first in the Los Angeles office, Columbus Ohio, and finally in Sacramento/Roseville. He also became a certified Firearms Instructor where he taught proper shooting techniques, and firearm training. Retiring in May of 2003 he needed a change of scenery. This led him to his entrance into the field of coffee importing.

In April of 2002, while in Michael’s kitchen the idea of Vournas Coffee Trading was born. Together with his brother Andrew, Vournas Coffee Trading began on April 15, 2002. Michael besides being an early investor and partner in the company also became Vice President. Mike took a liking not only to coffee, but to the day to day challenges of running a small family owned business. He fell in love with coffee, and the people in the business. He used to say that it is not often that one starts a second career at forty years old. Mike enjoyed the camaraderie with his colleagues, and loved to travel to various parts of the world searching for coffee, and also becoming educated on how the developing world works. He was a great writer and enjoyed writing his blog for the company website. He always took time to be with family and friends. All of this love he gave out over the years came back to him in multiples.

He will be sorely missed, never replaced, and always remembered by those who knew him and loved him. From his electric smile that would light up the room, to his masterful descriptive story telling you always knew that he was your friend. Mike loved watching his beloved USC Trojans play football cheering his team on from Section 15 Row 65 Seat 121.May God bless “Mickey V” as we remember the good times that he brought to all of us throughout our lives.

If you wish to make a donation in Michael’s honor you can do so in two ways. The first is for the Vournas College Fund. The second is for Sarcoma Cancer Research through the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Vournas College Fund
c/o Chase Bank
1678 N. Moorpark Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
 

Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation
Box 951780
Factor Building, Room 8-950
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1780

For Online Donations:
Please visit our website at www.cancer.ucla.edu and click on Make A Gift on the lower tool bar. In the credit card section, which is step 4 in the online donations screen, please include in the comments section a note that it is for Sarcoma Cancer Research.

By Credit Card/By Phone:

If you wish to make a donation by credit card or if you have any questions, please feel free to call Cynthia Sheppard at the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation at (310) 206-0675.